Relay



July 17, 1928.

H. P. SLEEPER RELAY Filed Feb. 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Harvey F Sleeper m 5 a M/ B O H z o a a O 1 0 0 o 0 M O 1 0 m 0 1 a 6 E a f 2 M F WITNESSES: %@M

ATTORNEY July 17, 1928. 7 1,677,302

H. P. SLEEPER RELAY I Filed Feb 3, 1925 2 sh'eis-sneet 2 as 23 4Q 45 24 25 as Gomac? space sefling 42 1 lNVENTbR Harvey P. Sleeper.

WITNESSES:

MGM v I J44 ATTdRNEY Patented July 17, 1928.

UNITED {STATES PATET. OFFICE.

HARVEY P. SLEEPER, OF EAST PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIAQASSIGNOR TO WEST:

INGHOUSE ELECTRIC 80 MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

RELAY.

Application filed. February 3, 1923. Serial No. 616,755

. My invention relates to relays and particularly to differential relays of the induction type. V t

One object of my invention is to provide a differential relay of the inductiontype for the protection of parallel-connected conductors.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a relay, of the above-indicated character, embodying a movable member that is movable in two directions and that-shall he provided with restraining springs for maintaining a: substantially constant counter torque againstthe movement of the movable member in either direction.

Another object of my invention is to pro 'vide restraining springs in a relay of the above-indicated character that shall be rendered effective only when the movable memher moves from a predetermined neutral position. l y

Another object of my invention is toprovide a plurality of springs for a relay of the above-indicated character which shall be rendered severally ellectivadepending upon the direction of movement of the movable member.

Another object of my invention is to provide a relay in which the restraining force or torque of the springs maybe easily calibrated. i

These and other objects will be appreciated from a consideration of the specification and drawingsinwhich Figure 1 is a plan View of the relay embodying my invention;

v Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the relay illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the relay structure illustrating the arrangement of the disc member and the restraining springs; Fig. 4 isa side elevational view, partially in section, of the structure of the relay that is illustratedin Fig. 3; i

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the arrangement of one of the restraining springs; v t Fig. 6' is a diagrammatic view ofan electrical circuit illustrating the connections of the relay windings thereto, and m Fig. 7 is a graph illustrating the tension developed in the controlling? springs movable controlling member of the relay under different conditions of initial tension in the spring.

In relays of the induction type in which the controllingdisc member is adapted to move in one direction only, various methods have been employed to insure a substantially constant counter torque throughout the whole path of travel of the controlling memher.

same predetermined operating force would he suflicient to actuate the controlling memher at any point along its path of travel. Thus, the controlling member would start and move to the contact-controlling position under the influence of a substantially constant sustained operating torque.

One method hasbeen to, establish an initial tension in the restraining spring so that the difference in the tension of the spring,

when the controlling member is in its initial position and whenv it is in its .ellective positon, will be substantially small.

In a differential relay ofthe induction type in which the movable disc member is actuated in two directions, it is desirable to provide some means'wherebythe initiallya predetermined direction of movement of the disc member. 7

As illustratedin the accompanying drawings, a ditlerentialrelay 10 is energized from two circuits 11 and 12 and is adapted to ettectthe engagement of either of two This feature in the relay was desired and regarded as essential in order that the y the relative values of current traversing the respective circuits 11 and 12.

The relay 10, comprises, in general, a base 16 upon which is mounted an operating electromagnet 17, a disc member 18 controlled thereby and actuated in .a direction depending upon the energization of its windings 19 to effect, the engagement of the adjustable contact members 13 and l t by the movable contact member 15.

The contact members 13 and 14 are respectively mounted upon, and supported by, twobrackets 21 and 22 which maybe placed in any predetermined position by means of positioning levers 23 and 24, respectively. These levers are each provided with a pointer 25 which coeoperates, in each case,

with a portion of the scale 26 to indicate the relative intervals of time required to causethe controlling disc member 18 to effeet engagement'ot' the one or the other of the contactrmembers 13 and l lybythe movable member 15.

Normally, the disc member 18 occupies a neutral position. WVhen the windings of the relay are unequally energized, the disc member is caused to turn either toward the righthand or toward the left-hand side, depending upon which of the two circuits is energized to a greater degree. In order to maintain a substantially constant counter torque which will determine the value of the current necessary to operate the, relay, I provide two springs 27 and 28, the one or the other otwliieh becomes eilective in accordance with the direction of movement of the disc member 18.

The spring 27 is secured, at its outer end, between a supporting bracket 29 (see Fig. 1) and. a clamping member 31. The inner end of the spring is secured to a collar 32 which supports and turns with, the disc member 18, the collar being capable of free movement relative to the shaft 33 upon which it is mounted.

The spring 28 has its outer end similarly secured between a stationary supporting bracket 34 and a clamping member 35. The inner end of the spring 28 is secured to a collar 36 which is also rotatably mounted upon the shaft 33 and arranged to turn easily relative thereto.

The collar 32 is mai mined position to establish a predetermined tension in the spring 27, by means of a pin member 37 (see Fig. 5) which is secured to the collar and isnormally disposed to rest against a stop member 38. The collar 36 is similarly maintained in such position as to establish a predetermined initial tension in the associated spring 28 by means of,

a pin member 39 which also rests against the stop' member 38. The stop member 38 is mounted upon the structure of the electromagnet and is secured thereto by means ntained in a predeterof a bearing screw 40, for alining the shaft 33, and a clamping screw 41.

The tension developed in the springs 27 and 28 may be readily adjusted by changing the positions of the outer ends of the respec tive springs between the associated brackets and clamping members.

In ord r- 0. gage i h Q e p me rs37 and 3:9. to rende t i respec iv sociated springs eiieetive, the disc member 18 is provided with a vertical pin 42 which normally, in the neutral position of the disc member 18, rests directly in front of the stop member between the ends of the pin 'members 37 and 39, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

When the relay is energized by reason of an unbalance in the currents traversing the main circuits, the disc member 18 is actuated in the one or the other direction and the vertical pin member 42 engages either the pin 37 or the pin 39, and the respective assoeiated spring is thereupon rendered eiiective to establish a restraining torque on the disc member in opposition to its movement.

By' means of the arrangement which I have herein illustrated, in which the springs 27 and 28v are symmetrically and co-axially disposed with res ,ect to the shaft 18, I avoid an undesirable side thrust of the shaft 33 against the sides of the bearing screw 40 or of the lower jewel bearing 43.

By reason of the initial tension in the springs, the counter torque changes but-a small amount and may, therefore, be regarded as substantially constant, as illustrated by curve 50 of Fig. 7. If the springswere not initially tensioned and the relay were to operate from a condition of zero tension in the spring to a condition of maximum tension at which the movable contact member would engage the stationary contact member, corresponding to the point where curvefiO-meets curve50, the operation of the relay could not be definitely controlled ac cording to a predetermined inverse time-elm ment curve, as is desired with protective relays of this type. v i i The adjustable positioning levers 23 and '24; for adjusting the position of the stationary contact members may be readily 'adjusted by movement against the friction force of a spring washer 45 that is disposed between the positioning levers and the'head of the threaded bearing.

My. invention thus contemplates 'means whereby a substantially constant counter torque may be impressed upon the movable member of a differential relay in which the movable member is adapted; to be actuated in a plurality of directions.

My invention'i's not limited to the specific structure that has been illustrated, but may be variously modified in the arrangement thereof to accomplish the same result without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims. Y

I claim as my invention:

1..In an electric relay, the combination with a movable member movable in response to an electric force provided with a laterally extending portion, a spring fixed at one end and a stop, the free end of the spring engaging the stop to maintain a predetermined tension in the spring and disposed in the path'of the laterally extending portion of the movable member to be engaged thereby.

2. In a relay, the combination. with a movable member provided with a laterally extending portion occupying a predetermined neutral position, a stop member alined with said portion relative to the center of movement of the movable member, two springs fixed at one end and differentially wound relative to each other, and projecting portions on the free ends of said springs disposed on opposite sides of the stop memher and in the path of movement of the laterally extending portion of the movable member to be engaged thereby.

3. An electric relay provided with a member movable in two directions and straining means for the movable member.

free of the movable member and means associated with the movable member for selectively mechanically associating the movable member with only one of the restraining means depending upon the direction of movement of the movable member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of January, 1923.

' HARVEY P. SLEEPER. 

